The United States has delayed reaching an agreement on the cancellation of Trump-era tariffs on British steel and aluminum as Washington worries about post-Brexit trade rules that will affect the course of Northern Ireland. The Financial Times.
In a related document analyzed by the same newspaper, a US Department of Commerce official reportedly stated that talks with Britain on easing tariffs on metals could not proceed.
The official cited US concerns over British threats to invoke Article 16, according to the paper.
Article 16 provides for the initiation of an emergency procedure allowing Britain or the EU to seek the suspension of parts of the Brexit agreement which introduced some controls on the movement of goods in Northern Ireland by Britain in the event of persistent difficulties.
The administration of former President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of 25% and 10% on US imports of steel and aluminum, citing national security reasons, prompting retaliation from the European Union on motorcycles, whiskey and tobacco.
Britain incorporated these duties into the new independent tariff system when it completed its exit from the EU in late 2020, but is now reviewing the list of products to help protect its special interests.
The newspaper reported that the US informed the United Kingdom about the reason for the delay.
The British Commerce Department said: “We do not see any connection between this specific issue and the Northern Ireland Protocol and in no way will it affect the UK approach. This is because significant changes are needed to the Protocol in order to protect the Agreement. Good Friday for Belfast, but also Ireland’s position in the UK’s internal market. ”
A British government spokesman said the United Kingdom was in talks with US Trade Representative Kathryn Thai and Trade Secretary Gina Raimondo on the issue, with Britain still committed to reaching a tariff agreement.
The United States has expressed grave concern that a dispute between London and Brussels over the implementation of the 2020 Brexit agreement could undermine the Good Friday Agreement, which effectively ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.
In September, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ruled out a post-Brexit deal between Washington and London if the Northern Ireland peace deal was to be scrapped.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
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Source From: Capital
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